The 7^th Seminar for Holy Synod Members was hold on “Bishop & priest … Fatherhood & Sonship” from Monday, November 18^th to Thursday, November 21^st, 2019 at the LOGOS Center at the papal residence at St. Bishoy Monastery, in the presence and patronage of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Bishop Danial (Maadi), Holy Synod Secretary and the presence of 110 of Holy Synod Members.

The seminar consisted of presenting scientific research papers with written and patristic reference that were prepared by the Metropolitans and Bishops in sufficient time before the seminar. The papers were sent electronically to all Holy Synod members for study, and the fathers participated in a free and open discussion on the research papers.

45 minutes were allowed for the presentation of the paper and 45 minutes for discussion for each session.

The seminar schedule is as follows:

The 1^st Session: Before he became a priest:

(Knowing the candidate’s life details: his studies, his family, his environment, his service, his physical and psychological health, the nomination method, mistakes in the nomination, a period of training and study before the ordination)

Speaker: Metropolitan Pakhomious

Moderator: Bishop Antony

The 2^nd Session: Priesthood First Day:

(Duties and rights, priest Questioning, Bishop Fatherhood of the priest between rights and duties, promotion, salary, his psychological and spiritual needs)

Speaker: Bishop Marcos

Moderator: Bishop Macarius

The 3^rd Session: Bishop Fatherhood:

(Following up and caring for the priest’s relations with his brothers, his family, Church council members, servants, the people, State officials within the boundaries of his church, Bishop dealing with the differences of the priests in the one church)

Speaker: Bishop Loukas

Moderator: Bishop Stephanos

The 4^th Session: Qualities and Treatments:

(Take care of the priest, who is he? Why? How to treat? What to do if treatment is not possible, problems: Self, Sex, Money)

Speaker: Bishop Maximous (Banha)

Moderator: Bishop Bernaba

The 5^th Session: Priest Special Circumstances:

(The possibility of changing the diocese of the priest’s service, relieving the priest from his administrative and financial responsibilities after a certain age, the interest in preparing a second generation, the illness of any part of the family, the birth of disabled children, the emigration of his family, the priest refused to ordain another priest with him)

Speaker & Moderator: Bishop Biemen

The Synod fathers were distributed into five groups to discuss the five topics and moderated the discussion in the groups:

1^st Group: Bishop Theodosius

2^nd Group: Bishop David

3^rd Group: Bishop Martyros

4^th Group: Bishop Temotheos

5^th Group: Bishop Youhanna

The seminar ended with a closing session in which the following took place:

• Presenting the recommendations of the working groups
• Closing speech by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II on “Who is the priest?”

The Lord uses this seminar for the glory of His Holy Name, the growth of His Holy Church, and the salvation of our souls.